“They’re going to double the big guy, and that leaves plenty of opportunities for me. I haven’t had too many one-on-one opportunities, and when you do, you’re expected to win — at least in our locker room — the majority of the time, because that’s supposed to be a mismatch.”

While the thought of Matthews not getting double teamed makes our panties wet, we also have a tough time seeing that scenario play out.

Matthews is right. Pepper is bigger.

He’s also getting up there in age (34) and it’s probably fair to say he’s lost a step. Peppers has also been known to take some plays off here and there.

We’d double the guy who plays like a banshee every snap and take our chances with the old timer. Our guess is most NFL teams will do the same.

That scenario is not without its upside, though.

In Chicago, opposing teams focused on Peppers because, for the last couple years, the Bears defense was pretty much crap.

Now that he’ll no longer be the focal point, it’s quite possible that Peppers will put up bigger numbers than he has in recent seasons and not look like a guy who’s in decline.

Peppers will be able to take some plays off for us too- the ones he’s on the sideline. He’s not going to be an every down player. He doesn’t have to be. If he plays 60% of the defensive plays per game we should get some real production from him. He can go balls out on pass rush knowing he not going to play every defensive snap. Big difference when you have a role to play versus being the linchpin of the defense.

The Packers were especially bad defensively in end-of-the-game scenarios last season, and MM made his anger about it known.

I believe the Peppers’ signing has a lot to do with addressing that specific need.

That is typically what great pass rushers near the end of their career still bring to the table. They can get a key sack in the fourth quarter that can make the difference between getting a stop or allowing a go ahead or winning score.

LMAO, Savage, got to agree with ya. If you’re making b 6 figures + for half a year of work, the least you can do is bust your ass 16 or so times during that span. There’ll be plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead.

Peppers wasn’t double teamed last year while on the Bears defense, and he was mostly contained. The only good games he had were against central division foes like the Packers. I think he’s mostly done. Unless he more or less tanked it, which is a real possibility playing for the Bears, he’s pretty much done. This would mean Matthews still would get double teamed for the 8 games he’ll play this season.